Examining your credit reports closely is important because the reports may contain errors, and those errors can affect what interest rates you receive, what jobs or promotions you get, and how much you pay for insurance. You want to correct any erroneous, incomplete, or out-of-date information as quickly as possible. Reviewing your credit reports regularly also helps you spot identity theft early. Here’s the contact info for the big-three credit bureaus:
Equifax, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374; phone 800-685-1111
Experian, P.O. Box 2104, Allen, TX 75013-2104; phone 866-200-6020
TransUnion, 2 Baldwin Place, P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022-1000; phone 800-888-4213
You’re entitled to at least one free copy of your credit report each year from each of the three bureaus — more than one if you’re unemployed. Whether you get a copy from one bureau every four months or all three at once, you can order your free annual reports from the Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281; phone 877-322-8228.